In America, citizens have privileges outlines in the constitution to protect them from abuse and misconduct. Just because these provisions are in place, however, doesn’t mean they’re always adhered to. If a police officer uses excessive force in a way that violates a person’s civil rights, it may be grounds for a valid claim under...
Read MoreIllinois is not immune to the drug crisis sweeping the nation. Studies show 47,000 people died of opioid-related overdoses nationwide in 2017. Illinois saw a nearly 15 percent jump in drug overdose deaths from 2016 to 2017, and the billion dollar problem is only worsening. To try and curb drug usage and overdose deaths, Illinois...
Read MoreThe story dominating the headlines at the end of 2018: Two teenagers accused in an act deemed so “evil” by a judge, that they would be tried as adults. Prosecutors say a 17 and a 16-year old lured another 17 and 16-year old into the woods near Chicago’s Golden Gate Park back in August and...
Read MoreOver the last few years, phone recordings of police interactions have exploded across the media landscape, sometimes capturing murders or violent beatings by law enforcement. There is inherent value in these recordings, which can exonerate innocent people and shed light on illegal practices within the police force. While you do have the right to record...
Read MoreThe last two years were busy and productive for Illinois legislators, who reportedly filed over 9,600 pieces of legislation. Out of those filings, 253 new laws are taking effect this year, from child car seat rules to active shooter drills. There are also a slew of new criminal laws for 2019 that could affect your...
Read MoreIn Illinois, misdemeanors are crimes that are punishable by less than a year in jail. Crimes that are punishable with sentences of more than a year in the penitentiary are called felonies. There is often more flexibility in sentencing and possible plea negotiations for misdemeanors, but our attorneys have been able to achieve successful results...
Read MoreThere are many types of domestic violence that can be litigated in court, including physical, verbal or sexual abuse, intimidation, harassment, and interference with personal liberty. If you are accused of acting aggressively or physically harming another person, the state will attempt to prove the assault, battery or other domestic offense happened to a victim...
Read MoreThere may come a time when you find yourself in the middle of a legal battle requiring additional “protected” information that might support your case. In this instance, you may be able to get that support through the Freedom of Information Act. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) states, in part, that a person can...
Read MoreA Brief History of Chicago’s Blue Lights Some years ago, “Blue Light Cameras” (also known as Police Observation Devices or PODs) made their way into neighborhoods in the Chicago area. The system, at that time now known as Phase I, was designed to be used in some of the city’s hardest hit crime areas to...
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